What Digital Camera and Lens Would You Choose if You Could Have Only One?
Jul 5, 2020 18:44:01 #
larryepage
Loc: North Texas area
Our house has been the target of a lot of cleaning since Safer at Home started not quite four months ago. So far, none of it has threatened nor come close to any photographic equipment, but it has nevertheless set me thinking, especially in light of the question asked in a recent post around why photographers shave multiple cameras.
I have been fortunate to progress through a number of cameras since switching from film in 2006. That certainly doesn't take me back to the beginning of digital photography, but it does reach way back into the period of more rapid development and progress in the medium. My recent thinking has been this: If you were required to go forward with only one digital camera and one lens, which ones would you choose? I realize that some of us may have only one camera, and may have only had one camera. Others of us may have worked through more different models than were ever necessary (or even beneficial). As an example, here is a list showing the path that I have followed. I'm only going to list cameras, because my lens library is pretty typical. It covers 14mm - 500mm, with f/2.8 capability at 200mm and below. And there are some slower lenses also. Anyway... here is the camera list. I still have those below the solid line.
Nikon P3 (zoom point & shoot from somewhere around 2005 used at work)
Fuji S3 Pro
Nikon D200
Nikon D300
_________________
Nikon D300s
Nikon D810
Nikon D850
Nikon D500
These are listed in the order that I acquired them.
So here are the rules (or guidelines, for those of you who don't like rules) for responding.
--You don't have to provide a list like the one I made just above. It was meant to illuminate your thinking.
--The camera you choose must be one that you own or have previously owned.
--No salivating over some camera that has always been on your wishlist (although you can also tell us about it)
--Some statement validating your choice is required. Doesn't have to be a dissertation, just give us an idea.
--Keep it civil. This question is about what you would do. It does not require that you critique someone else's choice, especially mine.
One of the reasons that I am posing this to the group is that my choice was a little bit of a surprise to me. I would keep the D500 and my 24-120 mm f/4 Nikkor lens. The reasons are pretty simple...outstanding images, reasonable file sizes, durable construction, excellent performance, high "usability." The 24-120 lens provides a good mix of flexible performance, reasonable focal length range, and good quality images. Is the combination perfect? NO, but it is manageable and will cover a very high percentage of what I shoot with a little bit of accommodation. I'll have to adjust my approach to night sky photography, but will not have to give it up. Things will just require a little more work and time.
I'm curious if any of you make a surprising choice when you stop to think about it. I'm anxious to read what you would do.
I have been fortunate to progress through a number of cameras since switching from film in 2006. That certainly doesn't take me back to the beginning of digital photography, but it does reach way back into the period of more rapid development and progress in the medium. My recent thinking has been this: If you were required to go forward with only one digital camera and one lens, which ones would you choose? I realize that some of us may have only one camera, and may have only had one camera. Others of us may have worked through more different models than were ever necessary (or even beneficial). As an example, here is a list showing the path that I have followed. I'm only going to list cameras, because my lens library is pretty typical. It covers 14mm - 500mm, with f/2.8 capability at 200mm and below. And there are some slower lenses also. Anyway... here is the camera list. I still have those below the solid line.
Nikon P3 (zoom point & shoot from somewhere around 2005 used at work)
Fuji S3 Pro
Nikon D200
Nikon D300
_________________
Nikon D300s
Nikon D810
Nikon D850
Nikon D500
These are listed in the order that I acquired them.
So here are the rules (or guidelines, for those of you who don't like rules) for responding.
--You don't have to provide a list like the one I made just above. It was meant to illuminate your thinking.
--The camera you choose must be one that you own or have previously owned.
--No salivating over some camera that has always been on your wishlist (although you can also tell us about it)
--Some statement validating your choice is required. Doesn't have to be a dissertation, just give us an idea.
--Keep it civil. This question is about what you would do. It does not require that you critique someone else's choice, especially mine.
One of the reasons that I am posing this to the group is that my choice was a little bit of a surprise to me. I would keep the D500 and my 24-120 mm f/4 Nikkor lens. The reasons are pretty simple...outstanding images, reasonable file sizes, durable construction, excellent performance, high "usability." The 24-120 lens provides a good mix of flexible performance, reasonable focal length range, and good quality images. Is the combination perfect? NO, but it is manageable and will cover a very high percentage of what I shoot with a little bit of accommodation. I'll have to adjust my approach to night sky photography, but will not have to give it up. Things will just require a little more work and time.
I'm curious if any of you make a surprising choice when you stop to think about it. I'm anxious to read what you would do.
Jul 5, 2020 18:46:48 #
Jul 5, 2020 18:47:44 #
Jul 5, 2020 19:01:37 #
Jul 5, 2020 19:06:41 #
Nikon Z7 with my only native Z mount lens, the 24-70 f/4. I’m certainly happy I don’t have to give up my D500 with the 200-500 though. Or my Panasonic G9.
Jul 5, 2020 19:09:38 #
Jul 5, 2020 19:10:06 #
Jul 5, 2020 19:14:19 #
Sorry, I'm more than "Safe" enough at Home - drives me crazy on those medical form intrusions - I'm keeping all my cameras. Someone else in the family can worry about it when I die! Each camera back through my film Nikons has purpose and value, as do the lenses.
Jul 5, 2020 19:23:33 #
Jul 5, 2020 19:26:03 #
Jul 5, 2020 19:29:02 #
Jul 5, 2020 19:31:34 #
Previous cameras
Minolta 7000i
Nikon D90
Nikon D7000
Current cameras
Nikon D7500
Nikon D750
Nikon D500
If I could only keep one
Nikon D500 with Nikon AF-S 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6 DX VR lens.
Minolta 7000i
Nikon D90
Nikon D7000
Current cameras
Nikon D7500
Nikon D750
Nikon D500
If I could only keep one
Nikon D500 with Nikon AF-S 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6 DX VR lens.
Jul 5, 2020 19:34:57 #
quixdraw wrote:
Sorry, I'm more than "Safe" enough at Home - drives me crazy on those medical form intrusions - I'm keeping all my cameras. Someone else in the family can worry about it when I die! Each camera back through my film Nikons has purpose and value, as do the lenses.
I think it was a rhetorical question.
Jul 5, 2020 19:43:37 #
Longshadow wrote:
I think it was a rhetorical question.
For sure - not a mindset that I find amusing. My comment was as mild as I could make it.
Jul 5, 2020 20:14:25 #
Longshadow wrote:
I think it was a rhetorical question.
You eastern elites use such big words.
I will keep my G9 with 12-60 cuz I can spray it with antiviral and rinse it off.
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